swinging Weights

Before we kick off todays email, last week i said a 20kg kettlebell can generate forces equivellant to 80kgs as it swings.

I feel compelled to let you know that that number is an estimate and on the outside edge of what may actually be true.

So take it as a bit of an exaggeration, but use it to give you an idea of why relativley light objects that are swung seem to have outsized effects on the body when compared to regular lifting of the same load.

A thing that stood out to me all thise years ago when i started with the kettlebell was how so many of the early adopters were from the martial arts and combat sports.

And looking into historical training methods, eastern block training methods and of course, the training associated with the Asian martial arts, swinging implements are always front and centre.

The Chinese have the stone padlock, a Kettlebell like object that is swung and thrown

The Persian basin has clubs and maces

Bulgarian invented a crescent shaped leather bag for training it's wrestlers

And every nation has an array of bodyweight training exercises, as well as still lifting heavy bars, rocks, sandbags etc.

The physiques built by these tools may not be particularly impressive, but when you get to grips with people who train in this manner, it is eye opening

I genuinely do not know why this is the case, maybe it's the near plyometric loading, the whole body nature of the lifts, the high repetitions.

i don't know what it is, and so far the research I have seen done on kettlebell lifting has been pretty piss poor.

But the question of why in the east, swinging objects has been associated with fighting, and when in the early 2000's why was it the fighters who jumped on it has bounced around my head for 20 years now.

And it still baffles me.

I guess successful training, training that leaves athletic and combat ready is first and foremost, train the sport and the skills.

Then train across all three energy systems

Jump, lift heavy, sprint

Use swinging tools and bodyweight drills for high intensity, fight like conditioning sessions

Jog, Bike, Shadow box, do Mobility Circuits for aerobic.

I know that is successful, that's how I trained many a combat sport athlete and other folks to boot.

This was one of those emails I sat down to write and didn't know what was going to come out. So I hope you found it helpful.

As always, I like to answer your questions to get you the info you are looking to know, so hot reply and send in your questions and comments.

They all get read, and i usually reply.....

You never know, you may end up the star of a future newsletter / blog post

Regards

Dave Hedges

www.davehedges.net